Now I'm really torn!
Nov 22nd, 2005, 08:35 AM
#1
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Now I'm really torn!
Ok, we will have a total of 6 days in Ireland. January 9th-15th. I know we have short days so I want to make the most of them. Originally I was gonna do 3 days in Kerry, staying in Castlemaine and using that as a base to see Dingle, ROK, and Killarney National Park. Then spending 3 days in Ennis, using that as a base to see The Cliffs, The Burren and maybe Galway. Now I am wondering if I need to see Kenmare and the Beara peninsula. So should I do 2 days Kenmae, 2 days Dingle, 2 days Ennis? I know we will have alot of time at night for pubs so I want to make sure I stay within staggering distance. Think the 2-2-2 thing will work, or should I stick with 3-3. Thanks all.
-Mike
-Mike
Nov 22nd, 2005, 09:01 AM
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lawchick,
I understand not using Ennis as a base for County Clare.
But why Dingle over Kenmare? With 3 days in Dingle, you could see Dingle (admittedly beautiful) and perhaps Killarney National Park. With Kenmare, you could see Killarney National Park, Beara Peninsula, and even some of the ROK if you were so inclined.
One reason I ask you to clarify is that our stay in Dingle got cut short by a storm, and we didn't get to drive around Slea Head or see the Blasket Center. Is what we missed the reason you suggest 3 days in Dingle?
I understand not using Ennis as a base for County Clare.
But why Dingle over Kenmare? With 3 days in Dingle, you could see Dingle (admittedly beautiful) and perhaps Killarney National Park. With Kenmare, you could see Killarney National Park, Beara Peninsula, and even some of the ROK if you were so inclined.
One reason I ask you to clarify is that our stay in Dingle got cut short by a storm, and we didn't get to drive around Slea Head or see the Blasket Center. Is what we missed the reason you suggest 3 days in Dingle?
Nov 22nd, 2005, 10:44 AM
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Ok, thanks for all the info so far...another question...I see you recomend 3 days in Dingle and 3 in Doolin. Being that it will be January, will there still be things open in both towns? Pubs, music...I had picked Ennis cause it looked like it would definitely have things open, but if Doolin does as well, then I guess we will lean towards that.
Nov 22nd, 2005, 10:59 AM
#10
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These are towns...real people live there! Everything will be open.
Granted Ballyvaughan/Doolin are tiny villages - but you will be travelling around from there. It depends what you are after. Ennis is a mid sized town with not much charm and not very scenic, but it has restaurants/shops etc. The others are small villages with a couple of pubs a couple of restaurants and thats about it - but they are very scenic.
Here are some pictures of Ballyvaughan - as you can see theres not much going on!
http://www.ballyvaughan-cottages.com...t/gallery.html
Here are some pictures of Dingle
http://www.dingle-insight.com/gallery.html
Here is Doolin - its basically one street!
http://www.doolinireland.net/
and as for Ennis - I can't really find any pictures to show you......which kind of supports my argument of not going there!
Granted Ballyvaughan/Doolin are tiny villages - but you will be travelling around from there. It depends what you are after. Ennis is a mid sized town with not much charm and not very scenic, but it has restaurants/shops etc. The others are small villages with a couple of pubs a couple of restaurants and thats about it - but they are very scenic.
Here are some pictures of Ballyvaughan - as you can see theres not much going on!
http://www.ballyvaughan-cottages.com...t/gallery.html
Here are some pictures of Dingle
http://www.dingle-insight.com/gallery.html
Here is Doolin - its basically one street!
http://www.doolinireland.net/
and as for Ennis - I can't really find any pictures to show you......which kind of supports my argument of not going there!
Nov 22nd, 2005, 11:18 AM
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I'm planning our first trip to Ireland (isn't it fun?) and I planned our trips to Italy and Costa Rica. Our family, including lively young adults, agrees that our favorite plan is to pick a place that has lots nearby we want to do and see, and stay there for 3 nights. We like the 3-3-3 plan.
Occasionally we find it necessary to do a night near the airport, but that depends on where you are going.
I have the same thoughts you are having...You say "Now I am wondering if I need to see Kenmare and the Beara Peninsula". That's what I thought too! But I realized that if I settled us in a good base B&B/guesthouse for 3 nights, in a place with lots to do nearby, we would be happiest. We do have a car. If you don't have a car, then you may feel a bit more "stuck" wherever you land. Unless you plan to use public transportation and book day-tours.
But with a car, you're never stuck. You just do day-trips.
Just to make myself clear, don't want to give you the wrong impression, I haven't been to Ireland yet! We are planning our first trip there. But you are asking questions that every trip planner ends up asking, for any country, I can tell you that.
As for using Ennis as a base to see the Cliffs, The Burren, and maybe Galway, ask the others here, they are great and have helped me a lot. I think that's doable but as somebody mentioned there are other villages that provide more convenient bases for day-trips to the places you mentioned. If you are interested in using a small village as your base, take a look at Corofin, Doolin, and Ballyvaughan. (I have nothing at all against Ennis, sounds interesting as it's a real Irish town even when the tourists go away, but it's a bit further from the Burren and further from Galway certainly.) Have you used AA Roadwatch web-site to check driving times? That helps with planning.
Good luck with your planning. I ended up choosing Dingle Peninsula, and deciding to skip Beara and Kenmare on this trip. If we get back to Ireland I will definitely stay in either Kenmare or somewhere near the Beara Peninsula.
I ended up choosing a B&B in Ballyvaughan in County clare as our 3-night base for seeing Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Dunguaire castle medieval banquet in Kinvara.
You want to do lots of research, book and on-line. Because you don't want to end up somewhere for 3 nights that wouldn't hold your interest. but it sounds like you are choosing good places, from the research I have done!
YOU'll get lots of good advice from folk on fodors. By the way you'll find people who love Ennis for its trad music and because it's bigger, and you'll find others who don't care for Ennis as they prefer the smaller villages.
Have a great trip and have fun planning!
Occasionally we find it necessary to do a night near the airport, but that depends on where you are going.
I have the same thoughts you are having...You say "Now I am wondering if I need to see Kenmare and the Beara Peninsula". That's what I thought too! But I realized that if I settled us in a good base B&B/guesthouse for 3 nights, in a place with lots to do nearby, we would be happiest. We do have a car. If you don't have a car, then you may feel a bit more "stuck" wherever you land. Unless you plan to use public transportation and book day-tours.
But with a car, you're never stuck. You just do day-trips.
Just to make myself clear, don't want to give you the wrong impression, I haven't been to Ireland yet! We are planning our first trip there. But you are asking questions that every trip planner ends up asking, for any country, I can tell you that.
As for using Ennis as a base to see the Cliffs, The Burren, and maybe Galway, ask the others here, they are great and have helped me a lot. I think that's doable but as somebody mentioned there are other villages that provide more convenient bases for day-trips to the places you mentioned. If you are interested in using a small village as your base, take a look at Corofin, Doolin, and Ballyvaughan. (I have nothing at all against Ennis, sounds interesting as it's a real Irish town even when the tourists go away, but it's a bit further from the Burren and further from Galway certainly.) Have you used AA Roadwatch web-site to check driving times? That helps with planning.
Good luck with your planning. I ended up choosing Dingle Peninsula, and deciding to skip Beara and Kenmare on this trip. If we get back to Ireland I will definitely stay in either Kenmare or somewhere near the Beara Peninsula.
I ended up choosing a B&B in Ballyvaughan in County clare as our 3-night base for seeing Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Dunguaire castle medieval banquet in Kinvara.
You want to do lots of research, book and on-line. Because you don't want to end up somewhere for 3 nights that wouldn't hold your interest. but it sounds like you are choosing good places, from the research I have done!
YOU'll get lots of good advice from folk on fodors. By the way you'll find people who love Ennis for its trad music and because it's bigger, and you'll find others who don't care for Ennis as they prefer the smaller villages.
Have a great trip and have fun planning!
Nov 22nd, 2005, 11:29 AM
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Thanks for all the advice all. Lawchick, I was aware that "actual people" live. I wasn't under the impression that they all hybernated for the winter...just wanted to get as much info as possible. Thanks again.
-Mike
-Mike
Nov 22nd, 2005, 12:51 PM
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epcotmilkey, I was in Ballyvaughan 1st of Nov. and it was dead. The hotel had a pub and I think one other. I escaped to Ennis and stayed right in the center of town at Temple Gate. I find Ennis a wonderful Irish town. It's my favorite larger town. Lot's of shops, musical pubs, just a great place to see people. Very walkable. I've stayed 9 nights at different times. I love the country side also, without a car in the cold, wind, and rain, can't beat Ennis. My favorite small town is Kenmare and you can get around to beautiful scenery and I"m sure Pubs are opened. I liked Dingle more for the scenery and was also a very nice small town. You're getting a lot of advice and it is all good. You'll just need to think of short days and what will be opened. Good luck , Joan
Nov 22nd, 2005, 02:11 PM
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We do hibernate a bit in the winter - but we still get up every night and go for pints!
As I said previously - it depends what you want. If you are looking for a get-away with beautiful scenery - I'd go for the smaller towns....if you need more entertainment - go for the bigger towns.....and if you do want to e-mail me....its
irishlawchickXXXyahoo.ie
(just take out the XXXXs and stick in a @
As I said previously - it depends what you want. If you are looking for a get-away with beautiful scenery - I'd go for the smaller towns....if you need more entertainment - go for the bigger towns.....and if you do want to e-mail me....its
irishlawchickXXXyahoo.ie
(just take out the XXXXs and stick in a @
Nov 22nd, 2005, 02:21 PM
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Given that you'll be there in early January, I personally would prefer to be in a place like Ennis where you'll have a good variety of shopping, restaurants, and pubs to keep you busy when you're not sightseeing. I'm not really a fan of Doolin in general, and while I like Ballyvaughan...it's going to be pretty quiet at that time of the year. Ennis is a good base for the Cliffs and the Burren, and it's an easy drive to Galway.
I kind of like your 2-2-2 idea. Dingle is among my favorite places in Ireland and I really don't think you'll find Kenmare too touristy during the time of year you'll be visiting. It's a nice little town.
I kind of like your 2-2-2 idea. Dingle is among my favorite places in Ireland and I really don't think you'll find Kenmare too touristy during the time of year you'll be visiting. It's a nice little town.
Nov 22nd, 2005, 02:30 PM
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Ennis is one of my favorite places in Ireland because I usually stop there for a day or two before Shannon airport and back home. Cruise's Restaurant & Pub has Trad music every night (best on Fri. & Sat.); there are some excellent restaurants, and Hotels (Old Ground & Temple Gate) and it's a great location for touring west Clare.
We stayed at a B&B there (Rose Cottage) and daytripped to Galway.
lawchick says: "Ennis is a mid sized town with not much charm and not very scenic, but it has restaurants/shops etc. The others are small villages with a couple of pubs a couple of restaurants and thats about it - but they are very scenic." That should tell you about Ballyvaughan & Doolin. I'm not sure you will find Trad Irish music in Doolin in January; I guarantee you will find it in Ennis.
We stayed at a B&B there (Rose Cottage) and daytripped to Galway.
lawchick says: "Ennis is a mid sized town with not much charm and not very scenic, but it has restaurants/shops etc. The others are small villages with a couple of pubs a couple of restaurants and thats about it - but they are very scenic." That should tell you about Ballyvaughan & Doolin. I'm not sure you will find Trad Irish music in Doolin in January; I guarantee you will find it in Ennis.
Nov 23rd, 2005, 04:35 AM
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Lawchick,
you kind of surprised me by saying that Kenmare is too touristy. Are you thinking of nearby Killarney? We stayed in Kenmare (and in Dingle Town), and we definitely did not find it touristy--albeit, we were tourists.
you kind of surprised me by saying that Kenmare is too touristy. Are you thinking of nearby Killarney? We stayed in Kenmare (and in Dingle Town), and we definitely did not find it touristy--albeit, we were tourists.
